Cherry Blossoms, Paperwork, and Homesickness
Waking up at seven in the morning to a sudden, sharp chill, my first reaction was to shiver. Then, the realization hit me: I was finally in Japan, arriving right in the middle of the chilly sakura season. Coming from Malaysia, where summer weather never seems to end, the freezing morning air felt both exciting and refreshing. My friend and I were temporarily staying at our senpai’s house, completely exhausted after spending the previous night trying to figure out how to open a Japanese bank account.
Before we can properly enjoy the blooming cherry blossoms, reality hit us fast. We immediately got caught in a frustrating cycle of paperwork. To rent an apartment, we needed a Japanese bank account. However, to open a bank account, we needed a local phone number. To get a phone number, we were required to already have a registered address and a bank account. It felt like an impossible loop to escape from on our own. Luckily, our kind senpai came to the rescue and allowed us to use her phone number and address just so that we could finally get everything approved. Hungry and relieved, we headed straight to the nearby conbini for breakfast.
Since we were entirely relying on data roaming, I couldn't really watch my usual K-dramas, but we quickly found something better to do. One day, our senpai invited us to explore Kyoto like tourists, and we met up with some other friends who were staying at a different senpai’s house. It was peak spring, and the city looked beautiful, like a scene straight out of an anime. Cherry blossoms bloomed everywhere we went. We visited temples together, took countless selfies at every corner, and I proudly posted my very first sakura photo on Instagram.
Standing under those cherry blossoms, I found myself wondering how this dream had even begun. When I just nine years old, I accidentally found cute anime clips on Youtube, including shows like Kamisama Hajimemashita and Pretty Rhythm that had me and my friends giggling for hours. What started as a simple childhood hobby slowly grew into a genuine passion. In high school, I chose Japanese as an additional language subject and joined every activity and competition I could. I still remember my teacher, Fiona sensei, who always supported me in everything and even helped me prepare for a speech contest when i was sixteen.
After our fun day exploring Kyoto, we had to focus on getting settled into our new everyday life. That evening, our senior took us to a bicycle shop. We spent about 30,000 yen on bicycles because she wisely advised us we should save the rest of our money for apartment deposits and furniture. But as the days went on, the real challenge hit me: homesickness, especially for Malaysian food. I deeply regretted not bringing a massive stock of Maggi noodles and Kembara meals with me. While the local ramen, udon, and tempura were delicious, absolutely nothing could beat the spicy taste of home.
During the busy rush of our first month, we also went to see our seniors' graduation day. Watching them graduate with flying colours was incredibly inspiring. Standing there in the crowd, I silently promised myself that I would work just as hard as they did throughout the next four years.
Now, fast forward to the present: I am finally in my final year. My days are filled with laboratory work, and honestly, it is exhausting. However, whenever the pressure becomes overwhelming, I think back to that fresh-faced student who first arrived in the cold spring of Kyoto, riding around on a 30,000 yen bicycle beneath the cherry blossoms. Remembering that moment reminds me why I started this journey in the first place. No matter how difficult things become, I will continue pushing through the long hours in the laboratory until the day I can finally wear a hakama, receive my graduation certificate alongside my classmates, and take photos beneath Kyoto’s famous cherry blossoms, just like the seniors who once inspired me.